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| United States Patent |
5,133,275
|
|
Maurizio
|
July 28, 1992
|
On board dinghy cradle
Abstract
The on board dinghy cradle comprises a framework of hollow tubings which
are secured together by fittings and connectors. The framework produced
includes bottom cross members which extend across the width of the dinghy
at a predetermined distance below the bottom surface thereof. Side tubings
are also provided for positioning one side of the dinghy close to a
supporting surface for the cradle, such as a swim platform, and to keep
the dinghy from moving away as it is being boarded or left. The cradle is
pivotably mounted to the supporting structure so it can be pivoted to a
vertical storage position, having the dinghy, with or without a small
motor attached thereto, up and out of the water.
| Inventors:
|
Maurizio; Anthony G. (1275 Wind River Dr., Palatine, IL 60074)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
787365 |
| Filed:
|
November 4, 1991 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
114/259; 114/365; 114/366; 114/373 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B63B 023/06 |
| Field of Search: |
114/259,365,366,373,44,230
414/678
405/3
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 3143991 | Aug., 1964 | Anderson | 114/365.
|
| 3401806 | Sep., 1968 | Schmit | 114/366.
|
| 3647089 | Mar., 1972 | Christensen | 114/373.
|
| 3834338 | Sep., 1974 | Ronouf | 114/373.
|
| 4864951 | Sep., 1989 | Koepp, Jr. | 114/366.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 792095 | Aug., 1968 | CA | 414/678.
|
Primary Examiner: Basinger; Sherman
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Meroni, Jr.; Charles F.
Claims
I claim:
1. A cradle for on board engagement of an inflatable dinghy and motor
thereof comprising:
a plurality of clevis type brackets engaged to a stern structure of a
mother vessel;
an equal plurality of arms pivotably engaged to said clevis brackets;
a fitting on each arm adapted to engage a side tube member extending
between said arms;
a side tube member engageable to and between said arm fittings;
an equal plurality of cross members, each cross member having ends thereof
which are perpendicular thereto;
said fitting on said arms being further adapted to engage a first
perpendicular end of one cross member in downwardly depending fashion;
each cross member being parallel to the other and extending perpendicularly
outwardly away from said stern structure;
a connector engaged to a second perpendicular end of said cross member and
being adapted to engage a side tube member as well;
and a side tube member engaged between said connectors.
2. The cradle of claim 1 wherein said plurality is two.
3. The cradle of claim 2 wherein said arms are L shaped.
4. The cradle of claim 3 wherein pairs of said arms are of varied lengths.
5. The cradle of claim 4 wherein said tubes, fittings, connectors, arms and
cross members are connected in air tight fashion.
6. The cradle of claim 5 wherein said side tube members are equal in
length.
7. The cradle of claim 6 wherein said cross members are equal in length.
8. The cradle of claim 7 wherein said L shaped arms of each pair are
identical.
9. The cradle of claim 8 wherein the length of said cross members is
determined by the width of the dinghy.
10. The cradle of claim 9 wherein the length of said side tube members is
determined by the length of the dinghy.
11. The cradle of claim 10 wherein the length of said L shaped arms is
determined by the depth of the dinghy and the distance from the supporting
structure to the water line.
12. The cradle of claim 11 wherein said cross members extend beneath the
dinghy a predetermined distance.
13. The cradle of claim 12 wherein said predetermined distance is
determined by the length of said L shaped arms.
14. A kit for creating an on board dinghy cradle comprising:
a pair of clevis type brackets engaged to a stern structure of a mother
vessel;
several pairs of arms adapted to be pivotably engaged to said clevis
brackets, each pair varying in length from the other pairs;
a fitting on each arm adapted to engage a side tube member extending
between said arms;
a side tube member engageable to and between said arm fittings;
a pair of cross members, each cross member having ends thereof which are
perpendicular thereto;
said fitting on said arms being further adapted to engage a first
perpendicular end of one cross member in downwardly depending fashion;
each cross member being parallel to the other and extending perpendicularly
outwardly away from said stern structure;
a connector engaged to a second perpendicular end of said cross member and
being adapted to engage a side tube member as well;
and a side tube member engaged between said connectors.
15. A kit for creating an on board dinghy cradle comprising:
a pair of cradle mounting brackets for attachment to a stern structure of a
mother vessel;
several pairs of arms adapted to be pivotably engaged to said cradle
mounting brackets, each pair varying in length from the other pairs with
only one length of arms being usable in an installation depending on where
a cradle is vertically positioned with respect to said cradle mounting
brackets;
a fitting on each arm adapted to engage a side tube member extending
between said arms;
a side tube member engageable to and between said arm fittings;
a pair of cross members, each cross member having ends thereof which are
perpendicular thereto;
said fitting on said arms being further adapted to engage a first
perpendicular end of one cross member in downwardly depending fashion;
each cross member being parallel to the other and extending perpendicularly
outwardly away from said stern structure;
a connector engaged to a second perpendicular end of said cross member and
being adapted to engage a side tube member as well; and a side tube member
engaged between said connectors.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cradle which is adapted to engage a
floating inflatable dinghy and then pivot over a section of a main mother
vessel for on board storage of the dinghy, with or without a small motor
mounted thereon.
PRIOR ART
Heretofore, various embodiments of davits have been proposed for use in
engagement of a dinghy to a mother vessel for secure transporting thereof
by the mother vessel.
Typically such davits comprise a pair of crane-like arms from which ropes
extend downwardly into engagement with opposite longitudinal ends of the
dinghy, by means of which the dinghy can be lifted out of the water and
transported by the mother vessel. Because the dinghy is maintained
upright, it must be covered to keep it from filling with water, such as
during a rain storm.
Further, a snap clip arrangement has been proposed which provides two snap
clips which are secured to one side of the dinghy, with the dinghy being
pivoted out of the water about a hinge provided in each clip and then
fixed in the upright position to the mother vessel. When the dinghy is
being boarded or left, significant amounts of stress are placed on the
clip engaging areas of the dinghy, often causing release of the dinghy
mounted engagement structure. Also, there is no way provided to secure the
seats of the dinghy in place during storage.
As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the on board dinghy
cradle of the present invention differs from the proposed structures by
providing a cradle frame which engages along longitudinal sides of the
dinghy as well as extending below the underside thereof, a distant edge of
the cradle being upwardly pivotable, singlehandedly, to store the dinghy
against a wall of the mother vessel. Because such engagement between the
cradle and the dinghy is extremely stable, the dinghy may have its motor
remain attached thereto during storage thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a cradle for on board
engagement of an inflatable dinghy and a motor thereof comprising: a
plurality of clevis type brackets engaged to a stern structure of a mother
vessel; an equal plurality of arms pivotably engaged to the clevis
brackets; a fitting on each arm adapted to engage a side tube member
extending between the arms; a side tube member engageable to and between
the arm fittings; an equal plurality of cross members, each cross member
having ends thereof which are turned perpendicular thereto; the fitting on
the arms being further adapted to engage a first perpendicular end of one
cross member in downwardly depending fashion; each cross member being
parallel to the other and extending perpendicularly outwardly away from
the stern structure; a connector engaged to a second perpendicular end of
each cross member and being adapted to engage a side tube member as well;
and a side tube member engaged between the connectors.
There is also provided a kit for creating an on board dinghy cradle
comprising: a pair of clevis type brackets engaged to a stern structure of
a mother vessel; several pairs of arms adapted to be pivotably engaged to
the clevis brackets, each pair varying in length from the other pairs; a
fitting on each arm adapted to engage a side tube member extending between
the arms; a side tube member engageable to and between the arm fittings; a
pair of cross members, each cross member having ends thereof which are
perpendicular thereto; the fitting on the arms being further adapted to
engage a first perpendicular end of one cross member in downwardly
depending fashion; each cross member being parallel to the other and
extending perpendicularly outwardly away from the stern structure; a
connector engaged to a second perpendicular end of the cross member and
being adapted to engage a side tube member as well; and a side tube member
engaged between the connectors.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the on board dinghy cradle of the
present invention in flotational position dependingly engaged to a swim
platform of a vessel and shows a inflatable dinghy secured thereto.
FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but shows the dinghy and cradle in a vertical,
storage position thereof.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one bracket structure used in
engaging the cradle to the swim platform.
FIG. 4 is an end view of the cradle and associated dinghy in a flotational
position thereof, showing the storage position of the structures in
phantom.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cradle and shows same engaged to a swim
platform of a mother vessel.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing all the elements forming the
on board dinghy cradle, as well as auxiliary arms therefor, which
determine how deeply the cradle sits in the water.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is illustrated
therein the on board dinghy cradle of the present invention generally
identified by reference numeral 10.
The cradle 10 is shown as being dependingly engaged to a swim platform 12
of a mother vessel 14, such as a power or sail boat 14, and cradling an
inflatable dinghy 15 therein.
Although not illustrated, it will be understood that the cradle 10 could be
engaged directly to a stern wall 18 of the vessel 14, in known manner.
Obviously, the cradle 10 must be pivotably mounted to the chosen supporting
surface 12 so that it may be pivoted from a flotation position to a
vertical storage position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.
To accomplish this, mounting structure for the cradle 10 comprises two
clevis brackets 20 which are secured to the supporting surface 12 at
predetermined locations therealong and equidistant from the center of the
platform 12.
As best shown in FIG. 3 each bracket 20 includes two wings 22 having bores
24 therein aligned with one another. Between these wings 22 is engaged an
attachment arm 26 which includes a lever arm 28 and a clevis cap 30. The
lever arm 28 has a bore (not shown) therein which aligns with the bores 24
in the wings 22 of the clevis bracket 20. Through these aligned bores is
inserted a spring loaded clevis hinge pin 34 about which the attachment
arm 26 pivots.
To the clevis caps 30 is attached the remainder of the cradle 10.
As shown, at least one pair of L shaped tubing arms 42 is provided, each of
which is dependingly engaged at one end to one clevis cap 30 and at the
other end to a top opening 43, of a tee fitting 44. A side opening 45 in
each tee fitting 44 faces the side opening 45 in the other tee fitting 44
and between and within these opposed side openings 45 is received a side
tube 50 of predetermined length.
This side tube 50 is equal in length to a second side tube 50 which engages
one opening 54 of an L shaped connector 58, the other opening 60 of which
is downwardly directed.
Engaged to and between the downwardly directed opening 60 of one connector
58 and a downwardly directed opening 62 of a corresponding tee fitting 44
is an upturned flange or arm 64 of a tubular cross member 66.
The distance between the upturned arms 64 of the cross member 66 is such
that it will accommodate the width of a dinghy 15 therebetween.
Further, because of the differing lengths of dinghies 15 available, the
side tubes 50 may be of a correspondingly longer or shorter span.
It will be obvious that the distance between the clevis brackets 20 is
determined by the span of the side tubes 50.
In use of the cradle 10, a dinghy is propelled into the space defined
between the side tubes 50.
Clearance for a bottom 68 of the floating dinghy 15 is provided for by
means of the provision of a plurality of sets of L shaped arms 42.
In this respect, inflatable dinghies 15 come in several depths. Also, not
all swim platforms 12 are mounted the same distance from the water line
70. To create a stress free engagement between the cradle 10 and its
supporting surface 12, the cross members 16 are positioned several inches
below the bottom surface 68 of the floating dinghy 15 as shown in FIG. 4.
This allows the water, rather than the cradle 10, to absorb the difference
in weight as the dinghy 15 is boarded or left.
This positioning of the cross members 66 is accommodated by providing a
plurality of pairs of L shaped arms 42, each pair being of a different
length. By choosing an appropriate length for the arms 42, clearance below
the bottom surface 68 of the dinghy 15 can be assured.
When it is desired to place the cradle 10 and its engaged dinghy 15 in the
storage position thereof, the dinghy is pressed against the bottom surface
of the cradle 10 by running cords 80 across a top surface 82 thereof,
between side tubes 50. These cords 80 are preferably engaged in an area
where they secure removable seats 84 of the dinghy 15 therewithin.
A line 88 is then engaged to one of a plurality of fixtures (not shown)
provided on the sides of the dinghy 15, swung out around the far edge of
the cradle 10 and pulled in, to pivot the cradle 10 and dinghy 15 engaged
thereto about the clevis bracket 20 into a vertical position. The lines 88
can then be secured in known manner to maintain the cradle 10 vertical.
It will be understood that, as the cradle 10 and dinghy 15 are brought out
of the water, the bottom surface 68 of the dinghy 15 eventually comes to
rest against the cross members 66, being secured thereagainst by the cords
80.
To lower the cradle 10 and dinghy 15 into the flotation position, the lines
88 are freed and fed out, allowing the cradle 10 to pivot back into the
water.
The lines 88 are disengaged, the securing cords 80 are removed, and the
dinghy 15 now floats freely within the confines of the cradle 10, ready to
be boarded.
Inasmuch as the arms 42, tubes 50, fittings 44, cross members 66 and
connectors 58 are secured together in an air tight manner the cradle 10 is
virtually unsinkable, should it accidentally be disengaged from the
brackets 20.
As described above, the on board dinghy cradle 10 of the present invention
has a number of advantages, some of which have been described above and
others of which are inherent in the invention.
In FIG. 6, I have shown a complete kit which constitutes the equipment that
is shipped from the manufacturer and/or the distributor to the ultimate
user. As will be seen from FIG. 6, the kit includes a pair of clevis
brackets 20. While the kit is particularly shown as including
clevis-brackets 20, it will be appreciated that other types of brackets
could be substituted for these brackes without departing from the scope of
my invention. It will further be seen in FIG. 6 that I have
diagrammatically illustrated the kit as including three different sized
pairs of arms 42. When the ultimate user receives the kit, he will select
which of the differently size brackets best suits his requirement and he
will then discard the extra sets of arms that are not used. It will
further be seen that two sets of tubes 50 are shown in FIG. 6 with one set
of tubes being shown in full line and the other being shown in dotted
line. By using different lengths of tubes 50, the length of the cradle can
be varied as may be required according to the size of the dinghy to be
mounted in the cradle. Other than as set forth in this paragraph, it is
believed that the kit is fully described elsewhere, and that no further
description need be made.
Also, modifications can be proposed to the cradle 10 without departing from
the teachings herein.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as
necessitated by the accompanying claims.
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